Healthy Lifestyle can Prolong Life in Kidney Disease Patients

Moderate exercise, addiction-free life and a low body weight can help increase life span of those suffering from chronic kidney disease, according to a study.

More than 26 million individuals in the United States have CKD. In the general population, a healthy lifestyle is linked with a lower risk of dying prematurely, but little is known about such a link in individuals with CKD, who are at higher risk for developing heart problems and dying from heart disease.

Doctors Warn That Protein Supplements Could Lead to Kidney Disease
Doctors warn that young people in their 20s are increasingly becoming prone to kidney ailments due to a new threat in the form of downing protein supplements without proper advice.

To investigate, Ana Ricardo, MD (University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System) and her colleagues assessed the association of four lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and smoking) with death among 2,288 participants with CKD in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

After an average follow-up of 13 years, 1,319 deaths occurred. Among the major findings:
- Compared with individuals with the lowest healthy lifestyle score, participants with the highest score (nonsmokers who exercised regularly, had a healthy diet, and kept a BMI above 22 kg/m2) were 53% less likely to die from any cause.
- Individuals with a BMI of 18.5 to <22 had a 30% increased mortality rate compared with those with a BMI of 22 to <25 kg/m2. (Normal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2.)
- There was a 46% decreased mortality with never vs current smoking, and 20% decreased mortality with regular vs no physical activity.
- Diet was not significantly associated with mortality.

"Examination of individual components of the healthy lifestyle score, with adjustment for other components, suggested that the greatest reduction in all-cause mortality was related to nonsmoking," said Dr. Ricardo.

Identifying The Risk For Kidney Infection
Many of the factors that put women at risk for urinary tract infections also put them at risk for kidney infections, say researchers according to

The findings reinforce the importance of smoking abstinence counseling in CKD patients and point to the possible benefits of regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight. The authors noted that additional work is needed to confirm the results and to investigate what the optimal diet and BMI are in CKD patients.

In an accompanying editorial, Srinivasan Beddhu, MD and Jo Abraham, MD (VA Healthcare System and University of Utah School of Medicine) stated that this study should stimulate interest in lifestyle interventions in CKD and dialysis patients, although because it was observational in nature, it cannot be said for certain that a healthier lifestyle caused prolonged survival. However, when considering the findings of this and other studies, "it seems clear that a healthy lifestyle of not smoking, increased physical activity and a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in concentrated sweets is warranted," they wrote. "Interventions that increase muscle mass and decrease fat mass are likely to be beneficial in the CKD and dialysis population," they added.

Two year old to receive a kidney from each parent
A two year old, Stephen Carr’s life hangs between life and death, suffering an extremely rare condition called renal tubular acidosis, that requires a double kidney transplant

Study co-authors include Magdalena Madero, MD, Wei Yang, PhD, Cheryl Anderson, PhD, Matthew Menezes, MD, Michael Fischer, MD, Mary Turyk, PhD; Martha Daviglus, MD, PhD, and James Lash, MD.

Disclosures: The authors reported no financial disclosures.

New Drug Mix to Extend Life of Transplanted Kidneys
It is great news for kidney recipients as well as those on the waiting list.

The article, entitled "Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle and All-Cause Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease," will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on March 21, 2013, doi: 10.2215/00600112.

The editorial, entitled "Risk factor paradox in CKD and ESRD: Does a healthy lifestyle matter?" will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on March 21, 2013.

The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.

Founded in 1966, and with more than 13,500 members, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) leads the fight against kidney disease by educating health professionals, sharing new knowledge, advancing research, and advocating the highest quality care for patients.

Source: Newswise